Could jury fatigue be a factor as Mangano-Venditto trial stretches on?

Could tedious testimony in the Mangano-Venditto corruption trial be leading to what's called jury fatigue?

Week 7 just wrapped in what was supposed to be an eight-week trial. It’s been a parade of witnesses.

Harendra Singh spent 13 days on the stand in the federal corruption trial of former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, his wife Linda and former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. Prosecutors have called more than two dozen additional witnesses over the course of several weeks, and they're not done yet. The defense argues that many of those witnesses haven't had much of an impact.

“I don't think that anybody really in the last few weeks has moved the needle for the government,” says John Carman.

And some jurors have struggled to stay alert over the course of the past seven weeks. So, are prosecutors running the risk of essentially wearing out the jury?

“It’s impossible to read a jury,” says Fred Klein, a Hofstra Law school professor and a former Nassau County prosecutor. He says while it’s possible jury fatigue may be setting in, he believes the prosecution's strategy is a wise one. After all, its key witness, Singh, provided damning and detailed testimony despite appearing to contradict himself at times.

“They put him on first, he explains the whole conspiracy, which is very complicated, and then they use all of these other witnesses to kind of show the jury that Singh was telling the truth,” says Klein. “Plus, the further away they get from Singh's actual presence in the court room, the less impact the cross-examination may have.”

So what if members of the jury do seem to be tiring a bit? Klein says they are still likely listening and paying close attention to the witnesses on the stand. And he says come time to deliberate, they'll likely be very thoughtful about the decision they reach.

“It’s a privilege to be a juror, and it’s also a big responsibility, and I've found that most jurors treat it like that, and even if it takes a long time, even longer than the judge and lawyers told them it would,” says Klein.

Jurors in the federal corruption trial against former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, his wife Linda, and former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto will be hearing closing arguments today after nine weeks of testimony.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Tierney spoke for hours Tuesday as he delivered closing remarks in the Mangano-Venditto federal corruption trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Tierney spoke for hours Tuesday as he delivered closing remarks in the Mangano-Venditto federal corruption trial.

Photos of the 2018 Fleet Week ships coming up the Hudson River to Manhattan. There are 14 ships for the public to visit and tour. The celebration lasts a week. It has been held nearly every year since 1984.

Photos of the 2018 Fleet Week ships coming up the Hudson River to Manhattan. There are 14 ships for the public to visit and tour. The celebration lasts a week. It has been held nearly every year since 1984.

Are you going to the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park this weekend?

Are you going to the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park this weekend?

It's time for the 2018 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach! Whether you're attending the air show or you just happen to see some jets flying by, News 12 wants to see your photos! Post on Twitter or Instagram with #N12AirShow.

It's time for the 2018 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach! Whether you're attending the air show or you just happen to see some jets flying by, News 12 wants to see your photos! Post on Twitter or Instagram with #N12AirShow.

There are a lot of highly anticipated films coming out this summer. From the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park series and the Han Solo film to the long-awaited Incredibles 2 and Ocean's 8, there's sure to be plenty of movies to see in the theaters! Here are just a few of the big blockbusters set to hit the big screen.

There are a lot of highly anticipated films coming out this summer. From the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park series and the Han Solo film to the long-awaited Incredibles 2 and Ocean's 8, there's sure to be plenty of movies to see in the theaters! Here are just a few of the big blockbusters set to hit the big screen.